The Best Online Resources... Are part of your Middle School Library!

We are resource rich in Elmbrook, and our library resources are no exception. Both Pilgrim Park Middle School and Wisconsin Hills Middle School library pages have gone through an update and redesign to make them more user friendly. There are four main resources you can access on our home page. These resources are: Research databases, our digital magazine platform named Flipster, OverDrive Ebook Platform, and the Library Catalog.

Our library research databases have been reformatted. You will now see tiles, rather than text links. Our databases can be used for a variety of research purposes. We have World Book and Encyclopedia Britannica as our general references. We have specialized references like Opposing Viewpoints, Middle Search Plus, Ebsco, Explora and Culture Grams. We also have access to NoodleTools which is the most comprehensive way for students to complete citations for research. Please contact your librarian assistant or Teaching and Learning Specialist if you want further information on any of those materials.

We added online magazines to our website. The online magazine platform is called Flipster (which is the same platform that Brookfield Public library uses). We have an unlimited use model which allows multiple students to use a specific magazine at a time. Each middle school has different magazines. These magazines were chosen based on student and teacher input. 

The library is open 24/7 because OverDrive is our district Ebook and audiobook platform. You have access to over 4100 eBooks and audiobooks. Students and teachers can browse through collections, subjects, and books based on text difficulty. There is also an AMAZING staff library that carries many professional, and may I say, high interest books for teachers. We are also very responsive to needs. We are able to purchase and attain books within a two hour window if the need arises! 

The library catalog has been a staple of the library home page. Both schools maintain an up-to-date collection of print books in both fiction and non-fiction. Students can use this page to search for books before they even need to go to the library. Encourage your kids to bring their Chromebooks to the library so they have a mobile searching system while browsing for books.

These are the highlights of what your libraries can provide you. Make sure you contact your Technology TLS or Librarian Assistant if you have any questions, needs, or wants. We are here to help you.

Pilgrim Park

TLS - Dan Gebauer (gebauerd@elmbrookschools.org)

Library Assistant - Jenny Beehler (beehlerj@elmbrookschools.org)

Wisconsin Hills

TLS - Shane Radosevich (radosevs@elmbrookschools.org)

Library Assistant - Judy Scaro (scaroj@elmbrookschools.org)

Submitted by, Dan Gebauer, TLS at Pilgrim Park Middle School

Student Tech Teams Making A Positive Impact In The District

High school students are making a difference as members of newly-formed student tech teams, Spartan Tech and TechCentral.  Tech team members are serving fellow students district-wide by repairing chromebooks in-house and assisting students with technology.  They have learned how to repair screens, keyboards and batteries in-house, greatly reducing turnaround time.  Tech team members are supporting faculty and staff with technology, as well as shadowing district technology professionals.

During the recent ACT Aspire testing, every freshman and sophomore needed a functioning Chromebook for two days of testing.  Tech team students were instrumental in the success of testing by preparing loaner chromebooks and completing same-day repairs.

In addition to their hands-on work, tech team members are engaged in projects based on their talents and interests.  Students are helping build and expand a digital tool resource website for staff, working on coding projects, taking A+ certification courses, and building new phone apps for school resources.  Tech team members are earning credit through a technology mentorship program, which will include opportunities to shadow tech professionals in the community and mentor middle school students.  The tech teams are a great addition to the Elmbrook District this year and we are very proud of our students who are engaging in service leadership with technology.

Submitted  by Sue Weiger, Library Instructional Technology Assistant at Brookfield Central, and Doris Osterhaus, Library Instructional Technology Assistant at Brookfield East

Photos by Nirbhay Vig, junior at Brookfield Central